3 syllables: per, son, age. Stress on per.
PUR-suh-nij
/ˈpɝsənɪdʒ/
personage is pronounced PUR-suh-nij (/ˈpɝsənɪdʒ/). It has three syllables (per-son-age), with the stress on "per". Personage refers to a person, often of importance or notable status, typically used in historical or literary contexts. It can imply formality or a way of speaking about a person’s role or significance, sometimes with a slightly antiquated or ironic tone. The word connotes character or stature beyond ordinary individuality, rather than mere nationality or occupation.
Personage refers to a person, often of importance or notable status, typically used in historical or literary contexts. It can imply formality or a way of speaking about a person’s role or significance, sometimes with a slightly antiquated or ironic tone. The word connotes character or stature beyond ordinary individuality, rather than mere nationality or occupation.
"The ambassador’s arrival added a touch of gravitas to the ceremony, giving him the air of a personage among diplomats."
"In the novel, the mysterious count is introduced as a formidable personage whose influence shapes the plot."
"She spoke with the poise of a personage accustomed to public scrutiny."
Pronounce it as /ˈpɜːr.sə.nɪdʒ/ in US, /ˈpəː.sən.ɪdʒ/ in UK, and /ˈpɜː.sən.ɪdʒ/ in Australian English. The primary stress is on the first syllable: PER-suh-nij. Start with a mid-back unrounded vowel for the first syllable, then a schwa in the second, and end with a voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/. Mouth position: lips relaxed, tongue mid-back for /ɜːr/ or /əː/; the /s/ is clear before the /ə/; end with the tip of the tongue contacting the alveolar ridge for /dʒ/. Audio reference: consider listening to pronunciations on Cambridge or Forvo for verification.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying perSON-age) and mispronouncing the final /dʒ/ as /ʒ/ or /tʃ/. Another error is reducing the first syllable to a lax /pɜr/ without the rounded quality, or pronouncing the sequence as /ˈpɜː(r) Sənɪdʒ/ with an extra syllable. Correction: keep the primary stress on the first syllable, use a clear /s/ before the schwa, and ensure the final is the voiced palato-alveolar affricate /dʒ/. Practice with minimal pairs to fix the ending sound.
In US English, /ˈpɜːrsənɪdʒ/ with rhoticity (r-collected vowel). UK English often uses /ˈpəːsənɪdʒ/ with a longer, non-rhotic vowel before the /n/ and a slightly crisper /s/. Australian English typically aligns more with US rhotic pronunciation but with its own vowel shifts, yielding /ˈpɜːsənɪdʒ/ or /ˈpəːsənɪdʒ/ depending on speaker. The /ɜː/ or /əː/ in first syllable shows the main difference; final /dʒ/ remains consistent. Listening to region-specific dictionaries helps capture subtle timbre.
The difficulty stems from the two alternating vowel qualities in the first syllable (/ɜːr/ vs /ə/), the fast transition to a schwa, and the final affricate /dʒ/ after an /n/ cluster. The sequence /sə/ versus /sən/ is easy to blur in rapid speech. Additionally, English learners often misplace the primary stress or blend /n/ and /dʒ/ incorrectly. Focus on keeping a clear /s/ before the schwa, maintain a stable /ɜː/ or /əː/ in the first vowel, then end sharply with /dʒ/.
In personage, the primary stress is on the first syllable, 'PER-' (ˈpɜːrs- or ˈpəːs- depending on accent). The word is three moras long with a light second syllable /-ən-/ or /-sə-/ and a final /dʒ/. The 'person' part contributes to the semantic core, but in pronunciation, the challenge is not the root but the transition: PER-suh-nij. Remember, stress is not on the second syllable; it anchors the word to the initial semantic weight.
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Personage originates from Middle English, borrowed from Old French personage, itself derived from Latin persona meaning ‘a mask, role, or character in a dramatic performance.’ The Latin root persona likely tied to Greek prosōpon meaning ‘face, front,’ underscoring the idea of a person’s outward presentation. In English, personage emerged in the late medieval to early modern period with senses tied to character, role, or notable status, often used in formal or literary registers. Over time, it retained a sense of outward significance and social prominence, occasionally carrying slightly ironic or ceremonious connotations. First attested in late 14th to 15th centuries, the word evolved from a theatrical or social descriptor into a more generalized term for a person of importance, often in historical or satirical contexts. Historically, “personage” has frequently appeared in prose and poetry to elevate the subject or to critique social hierarchies by emphasizing persona and social mask rather than simple individual identity.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "personage" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "personage" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "personage"
-age sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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